US794914A - Voting-machine interlocking mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

No. 794,914. I PATENTBD JULY 18, 1905; P. YOE.

VOTING MACHINE INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATIOH mum mu. 9, 1905.

3 sums-51mm 1-.

PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

P. YOE. VOTING MACHINB INTERLOGKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED EAR. 9, 1905,

3 SHEETS- 511113! 2.

v PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

' Y P. YOE] VOTING MACHINE INTERLOGKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 9, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

UNITED STATES Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP YOE, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, EDWARD W. HANLEY, AND KERIEN FITZPATRIOK, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

VOTING-MACHINE INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,914, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed March 9, 1905. Serial No. 249,167.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP Yon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machine Interlocking Mechanism; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such. as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

reference being had to the accompanying ments which provide ample means for chang ing the interlocking mechanism from a single candidate to a multicandidate group, or vice versa.

The invention embodies in the present instance interlocking mechanism which complies with the election laws of the State of Ohio, where women are entitled to vote for members of the board of education only.

The interlocking mechanism is also arranged to mechanically control the casting of votes for members of the State legislature-in the State of Illinois, for example. A single ballot may be cast for each of the three candidates, or one and one-half ballots for each of two candidates, or three ballots for a single candidate.

These and other novel features appertaining to the interlocking mechanism will be fully described in the following specification.

Preceding a detail description of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the machine, parts of the interlocking mechanism removed and the casing removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical enlarged sectional elevation about on the line a: w of Fig. 1, showing features of the interlocking mechanism and exclusion and the operating mechanism thereof. The mechanism as shown in this view is in a position which looks the setting-keys. When the machine is unlocked from this position, it is in a condition for women to vote for respective candidates. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the interlocking mechanism, showing it in a different position from that shown in Fig. 2 or in a position which unlocks the machine and places the mechanism in a position for men to vote. Fig. 4: is a detail sectional view. of the operating mechanism for a single candidate. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the accessory interlocking mechanism which is instrumental in voting for members of a State legislaturefor example, for the State of Illinois. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the full-stroke mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the sliding members of the interlocking mechanism, showing a part of the interlocking rod connection operating therewith. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line o 1;, showing the means for changing the mechanism for either class of votingfor example, men or women. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the locking members which is instrumental in looking one or the other classes of voting mechanism for example, the men or women mechanisms. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of one of the abutmentframes for a set of the interlocking members. I

In a detail description of the invention similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

The machine consists of a general framework 1, which is provided with a series of parallel cross-bars 2, which are connected to the framework, and a series of upright bars 8, which are likewise connected to the top of the frame and to the cross-bars 2. The vertical bars 3 provide a series of spaces 3, in which is placed the mechanism for each oflice. For

' is locked against voting.

example, each two of said vertical bars provide a certain number of vertical divisions 3, and each of these divisions is occupied with mechanism for a certain candidate to be voted for for a designated office. The main operating-shaft4 is mounted in the lower portion of the frame in suitable bearings and has connected with it on the exterior of the machine an operating-arm 5, through which said shaft is rocked to the necessary extent to operate the counters after the voting mechanism is set. (The counters are not shown and are the subject-matter of another application.) Upon this main shaft t there is rigidly secured a disk 6, which has upon its periphery a tooth 7 and a cam-surface 8, also pins 9 and 10, projecting from one side thereof.

11 designates a horizontal locking-bar extending across the machine and rigidly mounted upon stub-shafts 12 at each side of the machine, said locking-bar having a rocking movement for the purposes presently described. Projecting upwardly from one end of said locking-bar is an arm 13, having a curvature, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with a slot 14. The arm 13 lies in the path of or in a position to be engaged by the tooth 7 to move said locking-bar in position shown in Fig. 3.

When the operating-arm 5 is in the position shown in Fig. l, the locking-bar 11 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, and when in such position it lies above a series of interlocking members 15, and in such position the machine Referring to the detail features of these interlocking members, Fig. 7 is referred to, where the special construction of the device is fully illustrated, and the abutment-frame within which each set of such devices is mounted is shown in Fig. 10. The said devices have each a vertical slot 16, ex tending in the lower portion thereof, through which the rod 18 extends, said rod being fasj tened in the sides of the abutments l9 and the upper portions of said members extending through said openings and terminating in a hook. 17, 17 17 and 17 designate enlargements on the lower portion of said members which engage rollers 20 and stops 20, said rollers and stops lying above and across rod 18 and lying within a recess in the abutments 19, the said rod supporting said rollers and stops between the interlocking members. The

abutment-frames 19 are supported in position ing mechanism, may be removed and others 5 said interlocking parts remain in the abutment-frames when the latter are removed. In operating the machine it may thus be changed from a single to a multiple machine by changing the abutment-frames. WV hen any one of the interlocking members 15 are elevated or operated, it will be understood that the rollers 20 will spread or move to one sid namely, to the side which has the space for their movement. These interlocking devices are operated through connecting-rods 26, each of which has a loop on its lower end, by which it is coupled with its respective interlocking member. These connections between said coupling-rods 26 and interlocking members 15 are made when the ballot is made up. Connected to each of the rods 26 are a series of actuating frames 27, which are fulcrumed upon rods 28, extending across the upper portion of the machine and mounted in the upright partitions 3. The forward ends of these frames 27 have slots 29, which receive lugs 30, that extend from the inner ends of settingkeys 31, said lugs projecting through slots 32 in the partitions 3. The setting-keys 31 are mounted upon rods 33, extending through the partitions 3, and the outer ends of these keys extend on the exterior of the ballot-board 34. It will be understood that the ballot-board is constructed with a suitable number of openings, through which the setting-keys project, and that each key is associated with a particular candidate, and, further, that each of the rectangular spaces 3', formed by the partitions 3, represents a particular candidate, as hereinbefore stated. It will be understood. that when any one of the setting-keys is depressed the projection or lug 3O rides out of the slot 29 and over the upper end of the actuating-frame 27 and causes a depression of said forward end and a corresponding elevation of the rearward end, thereby elevating a respective connecting-rod 26.

Means are provided in the machine for voting an independent ticket, which will now be described.

36 designates a single horizontal bank of independent-candidate setting-keys, which are fulcrumed upon a shaft 37, extending through the division-walls 3. The outer ends of these keys 36 extend across the upper end of a ticket or card slot 38, which leads to a receptacle 39, and which is the subject-matter of a separate application. Each one of the keys 36 represents a particular oi'lice, and in voting for the candidate for such office the respective key 36 is elevated away from its position across the slot 38, and the individual tickets or ballots for the various candidates for such ofiice are deposited in the slot, through which they pass into the receptacle 39 on the interior of the machine. When any one of the setting-keys 36 is thus elevated, the slot 40 on the inner end thereof engages the end of its respective actuating-frame 27', and thus elevates its connecting-rod 26. The frames 27' are fulcrumed upon a rod 28' and have their ends suitably formed to enter the slots 40. As the operating-arm 5 is shown in Fig. 1 the machine is locked against operation and the booth is opened ready for a voter to enter. After the voter enters the booth he closes the same by lowering the arm 5, as shown and described in my pending application, Serial No. 238,539. He then selects his various candidates by de-. pressing the candidate setting-keys 31. When the operating-arm 5 is lowered, the disk 6 is moved therewith to disengage the cam-surface 8 from the arm 13, and in the same movement the pin 9 is moved away from the arm 41, which is pivoted to the sides of the casing. In the final downward movement of said arm 5 the pin 10 engages the locking member 41, thereby disengaging projection 42 on said locking member with the lower portion of the arm 13 and enables said projection 42 to enter the opening 14 in the arm 13. At the same time the projecting tooth 7 engages the upper end of the arm 13 and holds the locking member 41 out of a locking position. As shown in Fig. 3, the limit of the movement of the disk 6, due to the lowering of the operatingarm 5, is shown, while the other limit of movement is shown in Fig. 2.

43 designates a stop-lug on the side of the casing, and 44 designates two similar lugs projecting from the hub of the locking member 41 in position to be engaged on either side by the stop-lug 43, and thus the said member 41 is limited in its movement in both directions.

Full-stroke mechanism, by means of which a full stroke of the operating-arm 5 is compelled, is shown in Fig. 6, and consists of a ratchet-wheel 45, having teeth on a portion of its periphery, which correspond to the extent of movement of the operating-arm. This ratchet-wheel 45 is rigid on the shaft 4 and has two lugs 46, forming teeth at the limit of the movement of said ratchet-wheel in either direction.

48 is a double-tooth ratchet-pawl which is mounted upon a shaft 52 on the outer side of the casing, with its ends in a positionto alternately engage the teeth of the wheel 45. Projecting from the hub of said pawl there is a tooth 47, which extends in a position to be tripped by the lugs or teth 46. From the position of the devices as shown in Fig. 6 it Wlll be seen that the pawl 48 engages the ratchet-wheel at one or the other end of said pawl during the movement of said ratchet- 5 wheel in one or the other of its directions or movements and that the said pawl will lock 'the ratchet-wheel against retrograde movement until a complete operation of the wheel has taken place, at which time one or the other of the lugs or teeth 46 will trip the intermediate pawl 47 and cause a reversal of the position of the pawl 48. The pawl 48 is maintained in either of its positions until tripped by the lugs 46 by means of a jump-pawl 49, which engages either side of a retaining-pawl 50, said retaining-pawl being held in an opera-' tive position by a weight 51.

I will now describe the mechanism'and the manner for placing the machine in a condition for women voting or men voting, it being understood that changes have to be made to conform with the law of various States, which provides that women voting must be kept entirely distinct from men voting.

52 designates a shaft extending on the exterior of the machine and having signs 53, indicating men and women. This shaft is provided with a pinion 54, which meshes with a segment-gear 55 just on the inside of the machine, said segment-gear being fixed to the end of a bar 56, which is provided at both ends with a stub-shaft 57.

58 designates a series of bearing-brackets which are rigidly attached to the bar 56 and extend downwardly to support rods 59 and 60, the former of which engages in either one of the recesses 61 on the locking members 62, said members being loosely mounted upon the rod 60. The locking members 62 are of a construction which permits of their lower ends being moved into and out of position to engage or stop the upper ends of the interlocking members 15. As shown in Fig. 2, one of these locking members 62 is thrown into a position to lock the voting mechanism for one particular candidate, and another of said locking members 62 is thrown out of a position, or is in a position which permits of the voting for the candidate with which it is associated, and so it will be understood that when the machine is placed in a position to permit women voting the locking member 62 for that particular voting will be moved to a position to disengage the interlocking members 15 and the remaining locking members 62 will be moved to a position to interlock all the other interlocking members 15 of the men voting mechanism. The locking members 62 are secured in either position by means of the recesses 61 being occupied or unoccupied by the rod 59. The rod.59 is removed from its bearing whenever it becomes necessary to change the position of any of the locking members 62.

As the position of the mechanism appears in Fig. 2 a voteris within the booth and the one class of voting to another--to wit, from men voting to women voting, and vice versa cannot be changed. This is d no to an arm 63, which projects from an end of a bar 56, being in such position relatively to a disk at as will not permit said arm to be moved. In this position the rounded portion of said arm lies adjacent to the round periphery of the disk 64. \Vhen the operating-arm 5 is elevated, the recessed edge 66 of the disk 6 L is moved to a position adjacent tothe end of the arm 63, and said arm is thereby permitted to be moved to its position shown in .llig. 2, the edge 66 of the disk 64 being radial to the stub-shaft 57.

I will now describe the voting mechanism for different denominations.

Referring to the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, a single ballot may be cast for each of three candidates, or one and one-half ballots for each of two candidates, or three ballots for asingle candidate. it will be noted that the enlargements on interlocking members 15 in this group are of different dimensions--to wit, seven being one-sixteenth of an inch; seven, three thirty-seconds 01 an inch, and ten three-sixteenths of an inch. The space 67 permits ot' the movement of any predetermined number 01" said interlocking members. The ballot-board 34 will be arranged, for example, with John Does name appearing in three corresponding spaces with spaces 3. ()ne of the setting-keys will stand for one vote, the next for a vote and a half, and the third and final one for three votes. All other candidates will appear in the same manner on the ballot-board. Assuming that one ol the enlargements 17 of the greatest dimension is actuated, which counts for three votes, the entire interlocking mechanism of the group will be locked and any other key cannot be moved. It will be apparent that the space 67, which is three-sixteenths of an inch wide, is suflicient to allow three of the smallest enlargements 17 to be operated and will only allow two of the medium-size enlargements 17". it will be observed that the enlargements 17 of the independent interlocking members 15 are of the same dimensions as 17 of the different denomination interlocking members. It will be understood that only one ticket-slot 38 will be open for the entire group. The voter will write the name or names upon his card before casting it. It will be noted that the rollers and stops 20 and 20 are of different dimensions and that some are flat on one side. This is due to the different sizes of the enlargements of the interlocking members 15.

I will now describe a multicandidate or group voting mechanism similar in general construction as the group-voting mechanism, Fig. 5, in which provisions are made to enable the voter to select a number ol candidates irrespective of parties-for example, three members oi. the board of public service for the city of Dayton, which consists of an abutment-frame of the same dimension as shown in Fig. 5also the same number of interlocking members to wit, twenty-one, with enlargements 17 of one-sixteenth of an inch thereon---and also the same number of independent interlocking members 15 with enlargements .17" of three-sixteenths of an inch thereon. There is three-sixteenthsof an inch vacant space between the abutments 19' of the abutment-frames. Thus it will be clearly understood that by operating any one of the three imlependent interlocking members the entire vacant space will be occupied, thus preventing the operation of any other interlocking member oi. the entire group. As hereinbelore described, the voter is thus enabled to deposit his card in the receiving-slot 38 after writing the names of the candidates thereon. If the voter desires to make a selection from the group of regulareandidate setting-keys, he depresses any three of the said setting-keys in the group, which actuates their cooperating interlocking members, and thus occupy the allotted space between the abutments .19. in a group of :tour candidates there will be four independent interlocking members with OI'lC-fOLlI'llll of an inch enlargements thereon, and the vacant space will also be one-fourth of an inch. .It will be understood that the exact dimensions of the enlargements on the interlockingmembers will be regulated by the space between the abutments 1.9 of the abutment-frames and the number of interlockingmembers mounted thereon.

Referring to Fig. at, this illustrates a singlecandidate voting mechanism, almtment-frame l9, and eight interlocking members 15, each of which has an enlargement 17 lying on opposite sides of one-sixteenth of an inch. Associated with these are four rollers 20 of onecighth of an inch diameter. One of said rollers lies between each pair of said interlocking members 15, and there is one-sixtecnth of an inch vacant space between the abutments. Therefore only one interlocking member can move at a time. If the interlocking members were as ordinarily constructed to wit, one roller for each member -the roller would necessarily be only one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter and not of suliicient strength for a machine of this character.

I. am aware that it is old in the art-l:'or example, the cash-register art to employ in locking a series of actuating-keys, a crossbar, a locking member to lock said cross-bar, and a reciprocating operating mechanism. l.herefore I do not claim such construction in a broad sense.

It may be stated that the connecting-bars 26 and the actuating members 15 may be constructed in one integral piece or the connections between these parts may be permanent;

but for convenience they are shown as detached to said interlocking members, a suitable.

support for said individual frames 19 19, and single means to lock them in their supported positions, whereby said keys are adapted to actuate a single-candidate interlocking mechanism or a multicandidate interlocking mechanism.

2. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with a series of setting-keys movable into and out of voting position, a movable abutment-frame, a series of interlocking members and stops permanently mounted in said abutment-frame and movable between the abutments thereof, a series of rods connecting said keys with said interlocking members, and means for coupling and uncoupling said rods and interlocking members.

3. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with a series of set ting-keys and their connecting-rods 26, of a movable abutment-frame, a series of interlocking members and stops movable between the abutments of said frame, means for detachably connecting said interlocking members and the said rods 26, and means for holding said abutment-frame in its connected po sition.

4. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with a series of setting-keys, a rod connected to each one of said keys, a movable abutment-frame, a series of apertured interlocking members, a series of stops, a cross-rod to hold them in position between the abutments of said abutment-frames, and means to couple and uncouple said rod and interlocking members.

5. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with a series of setting-keys arranged in vertical columns, of a series of interlocking bars having enlargements detachably connected thereto at one end, and the other ends of said bars being pivot ally connected to said setting-keys, a series of stops or rollers movable by said interlockingbar enlargements, a series of horizontally-arranged movable abutment-frames, a suitable support therefor, and a single means such as a cross-bar mounted to lock said frames in their mounted positions. i

6. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of an interchangeable single-candidate and group voting abutmentframes, interlocking members and stops permanently mounted in said abutment-frames, a plurality of series of setting-keys and their connecting-rods detachably connected to said interlocking members, a suitable support for said abutment-frames, and means for holding them in their supported positions, whereby said setting-keys may be changed from single-candidate to group voting, and vice versa.

7 In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of a movable abutmentframe, a series of movable stops, a serles ofv interlocking members having apertures, and

a rod extending through said abutment-frame and the apertures of said interlocking members.

8. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of a series of settingkeys and their connecting-bars, said bars having enlargements alternately on opposite sides thereof and being arranged in pairs, and a roller between each pair of interlockingmembers.

9. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of a series of settingkeys of different denominations, a series of rods connected \to said keys, a movable abutment-frame, a series of interlocking members having enlargements of difierent dimensions thereon, a series of stops permanently mounted between the abutments of said frame, and means to couple and uncouple said rods and interlocking members.

10. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with a series of setting-keys of different denominations, a series of rods attached to said keys, a series of interlocking members having enlargements of different dimensions detachably connected to said rods, a series of stops movable by said interlocking members, a movable abutmentframe supporting said interlocking members and stops, a suitable support,'and means for holding said abutment-frame in its supported position.

11. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of a series of settingkeys of different denominations, a series of rods attached to said keys, interlocking members with enlargements of unequal dimensions detachably connected to said rods, a series of stops of unequal dimensions movable by said interlocking members, a movable abutmentframe to support said interlocking members and stops, whereby only a predetermined number of keys can be operated at one time.

12. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with a series of setting-keys of different denominations, a series of interlocking members having enlargements of unequal dimensions, a series of stops movable by said interlocking members, a series of rods connecting said setting-keys and interlocking members, and a movable abutmentframe to support said interlocking members and stops, and prevents the operation of more than a predetermined number of keys at a time, and a plurality of single-candidate movable abutment-frames to prevent the operation of more than one key at a time, a suitable support, and a single means to look said abutment-frames simultaneously.

In testimony WlIGlGOf I a'tiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PHILIP YOE.

\Nitnesses: I

R. J. MOOARTY, O. M. THEOBALD.

Images